The Duke and Duchess of Sussex recently took part in a Baby2Baby drive-through event recently in LA, and Baby2Baby released the photos on Friday. Meghan and Harry were both wearing masks (more on that in a sec) and they personally handed out school supplies, books, backpacks, clothing, food, and hygiene items to LA kids and families. It was sort of “back to school,” although obviously a lot of schools will be virtual this fall. Still, so many kids will need school supplies and food and all kinds of things. It’s kind of remarkable that the charity got to release this information on their own and no one reported on an actual prince and duchess handing out supplies to kids as it happened.
As for the fashion – Meghan looked cute in what was reportedly a Victoria Beckham blouse, Stan Smith sneakers and a face mask by Royal Jelly Harlem, a NYC-based black-owned business. The mask retails for $15 and I’m sure the company is beyond thrilled with the increased visibility. You can see the site here – I really like their mask fabrics! I would love the Burgundy Flowers one. Meghan’s mask is the Blue Seersucker.
The Daily Mail used this charity work by the Sussexes to complain about all of the “freebies” they’ve gotten throughout their courtship and marriage, and the DM literally sat there and went through Finding Freedom and did the ACCOUNTING for what a “mansion rental” and “a night at the Soho House” would cost and all of that. It is painfully unhinged. And I’m saying that as someone who was annoyed by some of the excesses detailed in Finding Freedom too – there were absolutely some moments (even in a mostly complimentary book) where Harry and Meghan (both) came across as excessive and privileged. But to sit there and tally up all of the discounts and deals they’ve gotten reeks of “black women can’t have nice things.” Plus, the DM utterly ignores how many free vacations, discounted cars, free private jet flights and multi-million home renovations other royals “get” with no questions asked.
Thank you to The Duke and Duchess of Sussex for joining our team to help us distribute school supplies, clothing, hygiene items, food and more to children who need these basic essentials more than ever during this unprecedented back to school season. pic.twitter.com/TLs2ksTYwS
— Baby2Baby (@baby2baby) August 21, 2020
Photos courtesy of Baby2Baby.
Dear Kate: THIS is how it’s done.
Do you mean wearing masks?
I think the Cambridges have done roughly as many public events as the Sussexes since the pandemic. Neither couple has been exactly busting their tails.
IMHO, Wearing masks, dressed appropriatlely and pitching in. Not overdressed and clearly posing. No staged photo of the workers, none of whom fully face the camera, in a semi circle around them pretending to have some sort of exchange.
As Harry and Meghan are no longer working royals, they are not required to do any of this at all.
Only one couple represents the BRF now; I think it’s fair to expect them to bust a little harder.
Remember that picture of Kate in that white dress and heels where she was supposedly helping to unload boxes of baby supplies? Obviously she wouldn’t have been doing much of that in that get up so it was quite silly.
I’m surprised news of them helping out didn’t leak. Almost like they can go about their business quietly unlike what the British tabloids and their experts were suggesting.
Wonder what the Cambridges have planned for back to school events 😉
That is true that only one couple is working Royal. But the other has made service and philanthropy their personal brand, so….
Point taken about how they dress at these events. Meghan’s style has always been fresher and more modern than Kate’s.
@Mumbles, which of these couples has: moved countries twice, looked for and purchased a home, Is starting a new company, been under much stricter lock down circumstances and still finds time to do charity work? I’m sure I’m leaving something off of the list. Not to mention they do not have the palace machine at their disposal. So I think H$M are pretty frickin amazing.
Mumbles, i just checked the Court Circular which shows all the royal engagements, and Kate worked 3 times this July and twice in August. I guess her supporters would say it’s summer holidays and she has 3 small children (which is always their excuse when she is called out for not working much) – but as a public servant, she works for the people and as we’ve mentioned here on this site before, marrying Will means she needs to work. Just to compare, also before Covid, she had 5 public engagements Jan-Feb 2020. And these engagements are usually one hour or so, not a full day event. This is the future Queen? and when she does show up, it’s a fanfare! oh my God, she’s here, she’s glowing, she’s working so hard!! How is she able to get away with it? LOL
@ Mumbles, because a few phone calls and a message for mental health does not make the Cambridge’s work even close to the causes that Harry and Meghan have done in such a short amount of time, given that they moved 3 times and have a toddler under foot, have already spoken for 3-4 separate causes and countless other acts. Let’s not forget Mumbles, that during the pandemic where infections are high, Harry and Meghan also handed out meals for a cause that provides meals to those that were house bound or on a fixed income which will have to sustain on this one daily meal for the entire day. All while suffering stringent COVID 19 restrictions and the heat to feed those less fortunate. Shall I go on?
‘the other has made service and philanthropy their personal brand’
Your tumblr roots are showing, Mumbles. Seeing as they haven’t been able to set up shop with a new organization, we have no idea what they’ll be doing in the future. We don’t know if it will be charity focused, if it will be all for-profit, or if they will be able to start any sort of Foundation at all. We just don’t know.
What we do know is, Harry and Meghan are not working royals. They are not required to do any charity work at all.
No. Working because you enjoy it and derive joy from using your platform to improve the circumstances of others, as opposed to doing the absolute bare minimum to justify your extremely privileged existence.
They’re so adorably corny in their matching khakis. It’s like they came to Cali and promptly fell into the GAP.
They really are that couple. It’s adorable. Someone said they look like camp counselors haha.
Camp counselors, perfect!
Yes! They are THAT couple. This was really cute.
Tom+Lorenzo dinged them for dressing alike but I think they looked cute,
Harry taking his cues from Meghan. He has been told/taught how to dress for every occasion all of his life, and now that he has started a new life, he is looking to his wife for fashion info/inspo. I think it’s adorable!!
They truly are adorable!!! We should vote them the most wonderful couple of 2020!!!
On a side note, is Harry trying to see the little boys eyes under his cap? He looks so relaxed and it appears he is enjoying the group of children!
I would not be surprised if the Sussexes are on the most influential list again.
They do look like such adorable little parents in that last photo. Harry’s the silly dad, Meghan’s the concerned mum. They’re all ready for the soccer matches and PTA meetings already. It’s very sweet.
Is 24 too old to be adopted by them?
Daily Mail reported this in articles tagged ‘advertisement’. Surely it wasn’t paid content?
As I don’t read any British tabloids, I count on Kaiser’s recaps to relay their lunacy. But to actually go through FF and tally up the cost of everything? That’s next level insanity. To do that solely to stir up controversy and hate against H&M, that’s just evil on another level.
Next level desperation. These folks are irrationally obsessed.
Apparently the photos are copyrighted to the Sussexes so the Daily Mail would have had to pay for them. The charity would no doubt have got a substantial donation. Ihope they copyright more photos and make the media pay.
Damn. That is really funny. To go from the Royal Rota threatening not to cover them to paying them for photos that can mean raising funds for charity?
Is THAT how the copyright to “The Sussexes” works? That’s amazing. So… on top of providing the charities with the photos, so that people go to their pages this more visibility, the charities get the money. I love it… soooo good. I sooo want this to be their working model going forward.
At this stage I don’t want them to get a social media. Give us the website, and these type of photos through various orgs.
That is genius!
I love this! What a great idea.
That’s why early baby photos of George were copyright to Mike Middleton, not to any royal house. So the Middletons could make money off the photos.
If that is true, that really is genius.
Saw these photos on Friday and I loved how relaxed they both were. They’re such naturals at this kind of thing and it must be so nice to be able to do stuff like this and not worry or care about protocol or having to do a photo op for reporters. I mean, I doubt Harry would have been “allowed” to wear shorts to a charity event back in the BRF.
Shorts!
Gasp!! Clutching pearls..they’re wearing shorts and short sleeves to an engagement! Exposing so much skin! That’s not how things are done!
Seriously, I love Meg’s look and would definitely wear that outfit.
I know right??? I can’t wait for the mind bending crap piers and Dan will come up with because of SHORTS and charity.
I mean I won’t be looking for it, but I hope someone will post it here.
I like these two (h & ‘m). I didn’t care either way before, but after all the bs thrown her and his way, I’m really taking a liking to them. I hope the royal family gets an apoplectic fit when they see these pics 😁👍🏻
Sandy I bet the family are getting an apoplectic fit right now because H&M are working through the summer holidays. that is such an un-royal thing to do and it makes the rest of them look lazy. For shame! lol.
Dressing rather plainly keeps the emphasis on the charity and not the fashion.
Great for them! But gosh this is sad, a drive through to hand over school supplies. Poor children
This is basically what it’s like in every school in the state right now because of distance learning. I had to go by my child’s school to pick up her supplies and class materials.
My sister was out yesterday driving school supplies to houses with kids whose parents don’t have a car. She had to prepare completely different learning materials for these few kids too, because their parents don’t have iPhones. Teachers have always been heroes and now, we can see it out in the open!
I love this look and I’m happy they’re working with Baby2Baby again!
Went to Royal Jelly Harlem to buy some masks. Had to get in my they had them. A particular one is already sold out…..
Their stuff is so cute! Remember all the brouhaha about the use of the word “ royal” for the Sussexes.
I can’t believe there hasn’t been public outcry over Meghan wearing a mask with the word “Royal” on it.
I mean, they are members of the BRF, of course that life is needlessly excessive and privileged. I wish journos would focus on all the BRF’s excessive and unnecessary luxuries instead of *just* H&M because, the Royal family truly does live high off the hog off the backs of everyday folks.
Hard agree.
I’m all for the exposure of the excessive lifestyles that the royals live for basically being jobless people who sit around waiting for their relatives to die BUT its very obvious that they only plan to do that with H&M. Which is again, the same racist BS we’ve dealt with of “black women shouldnt have nice things.” Like no one had a problem with Harry’s spending until he married Meghan, and they should have well before.
I would love to see and honest true deep dive on the royal expenses, but I want it to be ALL of them.
I’m most interested in who pays for the electric and cable at Royal Lodge (Pedo Prince’s humble abode). Pays for staff, lawn maintenance. Coffee and bread. Gas for the cars. Phone bill.
@ Heather C., that would be TQ, for now. Once Charles,is king I have no idea, but I am certain that his mum will set him up financially for life.
Yeah exactly. The way they kept going on and on about Tyler Perry’s mansion was eye-roll inducing, because you know, the rest of the royal family lives in modest 2-3 bedroom houses and don’t have multiple homes (/sarcasm)
Maybe they can take a look at the Panama Papers again? There was a lot of off shore investments for the Queen and her family.
Great charity! They both look good, happy and relaxed. I love Meghan’s outfit, though that shirt looks heavy to me. I probably wouldn’t choose it. Looks good on her, though.
ETA: Kaiser, I bet folks felt protective of them and grateful for their work with the charity.
I love Meg’s look! The army/olive green is cute on her. Its my favorite color and looks horrible on me so I’ll just be jelly. Also, very cute mask. I only have one designed mask, i usually just wear the blue medical masks.
Good on them for volunteering, I’ve spent a lot of time volunteering because its the small things these days. Lots of food drives, supply drives and back to school volunteeting everywhere its so gratifying to the soul so I highly reccomend to look for opportunities in your town.
As for the daily mail… of course they did? Honestly don’t see why anyone even reads or subscribes to that garbage. I’ve seen so many British celebs slam the Mail over the last few years as well as their horrible racism its just a rag tabloid. Its basically the National Enquirer in a prettier package. As someone currently in journalism school I can safely say I would be so embarrassed to write there. I cant believe people attach their names and credentials to those articles tbh.
Bummer. No bump.
Baggy shirt, baggy shorts, who knows?
That was my first thought too! Definitely no bump. 🙁
I love this type of publicity for the organisation. As someone who has worked in PR, you always want a big name when you run a promotional campaign, so this was really clearly a win for Baby2Baby. Yes, a case can be made for doing good deeds privately, but the platform the organisation receives is much better in the long run. It was also nice to see that they cover Back-to-School donations as well.
When I read this article my first thought was this charity is already so huge and has such a Hollywood support system already. It’s big with the Instagram crowd – Kate Hudson, foster sisters, etc. I actually wondered if having the Sussex there made it more of a challenge logistically with security. But I guess that would be outweighed by the PR and
I guess a charity no matter how big needs constant PR.
It’s one of those dilemmas that organisations have to weigh out. People also have this mindset that charities with royal or some big celebrity patronages have an ongoing stream of support and sometimes that’s not the case. Especially with the pandemic, organisations are limited in how they can raise funds. That kind of publicity she brought that day was priceless – they practically went global.
@Myra – that’s great they went global. It’s a good charity. They donated supplies to an organization by me on the East Coast.
Snap Happy
And Jennifer Garner . Seeing how close Janina Gavankar now is to Affleck I guess that might be how that Jennifer got involved with them and Save The Children
Hahahaha. I know some of you are pissed about the DM’s unhinged lunacy towards Harry and Meghan, but I am laughing at their desperation. The British media is getting news about arguably the most popular royal members AFTER the American media. They no longer have an in and they are pissed, so all they can do is nitpick on what was said somewhere else. They no longer have “breaking news” on their own royals. I LOVE IT!
PS. I can’t wait for Meghan to get pregnant again. Prepare because when the British media get the news LAST again, Armageddon. I, for one, will be laughing at their desperation.
I think this is what triggered Piers and Dan to have meltdowns over Meghan encouraging people to vote.
Harry and Meghan are thriving in the US. This is what kills them. Plus, the coverage in the US has been very good and fair.
I totally agree. For some reason, this event really set some people off. It was like this, in top of the house, the potential tv deal. and their recent zoom events , all without their prior knowledge, really got to them. Even from the photos you can tell they just have a way with engaging people and the crowd, and the U.K. won’t have that anymore. Also, there was no paparazzi. No one knew about it u til 2 days after the event, and the news and photos were released by the charity.Love it.
The British media definitely wants them to be miserable and struggling and beg to come back.
It ain’t happening!
Awwww I’ve been in LA for a week and I hate that I missed this! I was taking my first surfing lesson that morning.
hope you enjoyed it! it’s a super fun activity. pretty hard though, especially in the begining but soooo good!
It’s soooo hard! Getting the board back out there each time was the hardest part. I clocked myself in the jaw with the board and I think I temporarily drowned a few times, but I still give it 10/10, would try again!
glad you loved it! been there with temporarily drowning, know how it feels 🙂 when i did it the first time, just getting up on the board in a stable position was the hardest and i’ve been doing yoga and pilates for years so i thought it won’t be that hard. but no board can be as stubborn as I can.
Trying Stand up paddle surfing. My husband who’s over sixty (but very athletic) does it 3 or 4 times a week. When they’re are no waves you can still paddle and get amazing exercise. He does it all year long in Santa Barbara.
The account breakdown was absolutely a mess. Especially since more than half of it was “We don’t know if they paid for this or not, but we are going to add it the the list anyway at a made up price”. Or counting staying at a friends house while visiting them (the Clooneys , Elton John) as a luxurious gift instead of just a normal thing a person does when visiting a friend in another city.
And catching a flight with someone who’s already headed to your destination doesn’t really seem like a gift or being hypocritical. The flight was already happening, adding a person to it doesn’t cost more nor increase the carbon footprint of it.
But as we’ve mentioned here, it’s maybe ok to scrutinize if you’re doing that for ALL of them. It was well known that Will and Kate also stayed in friend’s homes while skiing or in Mustique or where ever they go, or were given private jets to use. Only then would this be fair.
At this point, the Sussexes know that every flight they take, dress they wear or ice cube in the their drink will be tallied up and the cost broadcast out and criticized. Gleaning that info from the book was quite a stretch and looks desperate.
They are just adorable.
They looked great at this event. So happy and enthusiastic.
They are really in their element here and it’s great to see them looking happy.
They came prepared and ready to actually do work in appropriate attire. Also I love that Meghan bought from a black owned female business.
Man, I bet Meghan is so happy she doesn’t have to do that Duchess dress code b.s. anymore! They look like normal human beings. I love it.
Great that they can volunteer without being harassed by RR.
Anyone else see the latest spin from RR? They are claiming they only stayed a few minutes and flew to the event on a private jet.
I’ve only seen this on Twitter hate accounts. I haven’t seen anyone reporting on it.
They spin the story. Unfortunately, kate the one who went to the charity less than 10minutes by heli and 1 placing a box from one place to another as pretending to help for charity. They reflecting on everything kate do on meghan.
Yeah this sounds like the usual projection. WhatRR reported that?
@Smices I don’t think a publication printed that I think it’s a Meghan hate account that was trying to spin it ( even thought the organization said they stayed till all kids were given supplies)
If a publication did, it proves a lot of Meghan hate accounts are royal reporters.
False.
Baby2baby said they stayed the whole time, until the last child was served.
And they did not arrive or leave with a private jet.
Why would they even push that narrative when it is so obviously false.None of that makes any sense. SB is not even that far from LA and saw the article in T&C that they stayed the whole time. We’ve heard about a few of their other volunteer events in LA like Homeboy Industry and Project Angelfood. They show up to work. Why would this be any different?
Only from trolls. EVERY publication talked about what actually happened, including them staying until the last family left
Yeah, I saw this over the weekend and thought it was great. I bet the people they handed out the donations to didn’t even know it was them. I like the casual looks, suits the occasion and I look forward to seeing them do more things like this.
my favorite picture is the one with harry bending down looking up at the little boy. He is so playful, and he and Meghan are obviously living their best life.
I kinda love how Harry and Meghan just pop up to things without fanfare. Generally the charitable organisation ends up owning the copyright on the images. It’s a genius way to help increase revenue.
Also their outfits are so cute! Meghan’s personal style & energy has been radiant since they left the BRF.
As a republican I found their rejection of the institution ~entertaining~ the more racist tabloid press melt down over it the more people start pointing out the hypocrisy. Prince Andrew is 100% a sex offender. It says a lot about institutional toxicity that he’s enabled whereas two hardworking people could only thrive after leaving.
M&H own the copyrights on the images – they are cropped out, but on other sites the photographer tags the bottom for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. They likely brought their own photographer which allows them control over their own images which seems like a smart thing given the past.
@Melissa thanks for letting me know! Definitely makes sense given how the UK press weaponised misogynoir against Meghan & Harry.
My fave photo of them is still the one in the rain when they returned to London. It’s such a romantic & glamorous shoot.
As if Keen K does not pick and choose the best pics that SHE takes, instead of relying in the trustworthy R Rota photographers. They trusted them so much that they let them take pics of their family (not).
oops wrong place.
They look super cute an engaged. Baby2Baby is the equivalent of the Ivy for celebs though, good cause, but no doubt they knew it would get mega-exposure. Not that it’s not sincere – I don’t doubt it is – but let’s face, everyone celeb/famous person in the public eye likes to be seen doing good deeds, it’s all part of their branding and H&M are no different, sincere, but they still like the PR. I wish it was a an org who is maybe not so well known as Baby2Baby, one who could have used the PR even more. But good on them still!
PR is the point of the outing to add to the profile of the charity. Their whole work will be centered around using their profiles to bring awareness to things, so PR is mandatory. I don’t understand what people don’t get about this. Complaints about them not doing things quietly, (not you, elsewhere) is ridiculous because, their work requires them to gain attention so they can shine a spotlight unto things. They are public figures using their enormous platform to make a difference, they need to be seen. Then they go home to their personal life, which is private.
It doesn’t matter who supports them or not, this event was for a specific back to school drive. When Meghan was pregnant with Archie, Baby2baby was one of the charities she encouraged people to donate to, back in April/May 2019.;It’s on their old SussexRoyal Instagram account, so she has previous ties and involvement with them. But you knew that.
Knew it but still showed up here, brand new troll, trying to try it
As I recall, didn’t they highlight whole groups of charities at the beginning of each month on the Sussex Royal Instagram site? They’d pick a theme and post a composite photo with 9 or so different organizations related to that theme; so ended up giving exposure to many lesser known groups.
We’ll see what they do as non-working royals once conditions allow them to proceed with their plans.
The royal reporters are stuck in the 1980s where they think their opinion matters they truly believe their only Hype and acted like gatekeepers . Remember when Dan boldly claimed that Meghan and Harry were Irrelevant and that If they pissed off the royal reporters they wouldn’t cover their events and their projects would failed . Now those Same royals reporters have eggs on their faces not only are Meghan and Harry every charitable actions being reported on by the American press but now those same royal reporters and British tabloids have to pay money to American organizations to gain second hand pictures of Meghan and harry they no longer can post exclusive pictures of the Sussex’s they have no access. That’s why dan and pier were freaking out this weekend their access to Meghan and Harry is done no more leaks by William and Kate . Meghan and Harry show up do good work .
Both Meghan and Harry are great with people. As a couple, they’re a dynamo.
Twitter haters were having a melt down yesterday.
David Simon is still lighting them up today.
i hadn’t signed on to twitter in years. today, I changed my password to get in and followed David Simon. He is a treat and a boss with words!
Harry and Meghan both looked so adorable and relaxed at this event. The matching shorts and shirts were so cute and seeing Harry goofing around with that kid must have been a punch in the gut to the RRs who can clearly see they will never have this in the UK again LOL.
She looks like Jennifer Garner’s doppelgänger with the mask on, in several of these pictures!! In fact I actually thought we were looking at photos of Jen when I read the title, because she has been involved with this charity for many years…
I’m so happy for Harry and Meg. California suits them. Will always root for this couple. They will always be interesting, charismatic stars no matter where they go.
The Photographer was there to take pictures as a way of saying thanks to the workers.. . And Not for England’s viewing…
she needs to tie that hair back. looks so sloppy! come on meghan. she doesn’t know what to do with her hair half the time she’s in the public.
but good for them to do something instead of sit on their butts and count instagram followers.
In some of the pics her hair was tied back. No biggie. I don’t miss them having social media. Prefer how they put the info out through the organizations they work with.
Technically they’re a prince and princess (or duke and duchess). You don’t have to say a prince and a duchess. Married couples (with a very few exceptions, like obviously the queen and her husband) have matching titles. I mean it’s all too artificial, self-aggrandizing, and ridiculous for words, but the “family” tried to humiliate them and take away their use of royal highness, so I got feelings about this. She is exactly as much a princess as anyone married to a prince would be.
Typically, people who genuinely care to donate their time and resources to others, do not have a need to bring along their own photographers and broadcast their deeds. One only does that when one is using their actions for publicity and personal gain. How can you not see this?
They need to publicize what they do to spread awareness for the charity, it’s the whole point of what they do, it’s what the BRF does. Meghan and Harry are just continuing that same type of work independently. Why can’t you see that?